Annotation of magazine number 2, February 2014

"Happy is our age, for those of whom victory came without blood ..." A speech at the solemn meeting dedicated to the Day of the Diplomat. We are facing serious and important tasks. The situation in the world does not get any easier: the formation of a new polycentric world order is dawning. There is serious competition as to how this new world order should be achieved. It is clear that no one alone or just a few together can ensure stability in the modern world today. But the question of the configuration of the new polycentric system is the subject of very serious debate, opinions, concepts, and interests.

I. Halevinsky. The meeting of the Presidium of the ARD

The task of the Association is to make an important contribution to efforts to explain Russia’s foreign policy, to expand its support both at home and abroad, to help to ensure the continuity of the best traditions of the Russian diplomatic corps, and to educate the new generation of diplomats in the spirit of patriotism and creative service to the Homeland.

POLITICS

Inoke Kubuabola, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Fiji

Russia and Fiji: 40 years of partnership The Republic of Fiji established formal diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union in January 1974. They persist and evolve to the present day. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the Russian Federation assumed the obligation of maintaining the diplomatic relations established by the USSR, thereby maintaining continuity in bilateral relations.

Y. Shafranik. Russian Energy: Challenges of our times

The fuel and energy sector has restored its position over the past decade, and it is a great achievement. Oil exports have doubled over the past ten years compared to the Soviet era. At the same time, oil prices have risen nearly fivefold. Output has risen from 340 to 520 million tons per year.

D. Malysheva. "Factor- 2014" for Central Asia and Russia

For Central Asia "factor 2014”, the scheduled departure from Afghanistan of U.S. troops and international forces at the end of this year, has become a major foreign policy priority .

V. Kozin. U.S. military policy: Strategic forecast up to the year 2075

In the U.S., there are long-term plans to improve weapons systems to about the year 2075. Long-term programs have been announced for their production and acceptance into service, and the approximate amounts of funds have been determined for military purposes for the long term period.

N. Platoshkin. Can we see the EU ... or Lithuania as a mirror of European integration?

At the November 2013 summit of the so-called "Eastern Partnership" of the EU, a number of former Soviet republics refused rapprochement with the EU. Particular attention was fixed on the Ukraine, which also did not wish to sacrifice its energy economy to ethereal myths in favor of a "bright European future."

REGIONAL VECTOR

G. Ivashentsov. Myanmar: an about-face

Myanmar, formerly Burma, has been the focus of the world media in recent times. Once in 2011, this country was the subject of a surprise visit by Hillary Clinton, and in 2012 the country was visited by Barack Obama. There has been a whole chain of senior Western visitors who want to shake hands with the leaders of Myanmar.

P. Gudev. Prospects for the formation of an international regime in the Arctic

During discussions at expert scientific level as to whether an international regulatory regime should be formed in the Arctic, national, regional, or of a wide international nature, it is important to revisit the text of the so called Ilulissat declaration signed by five Arctic states in May 2008.

N. Vlasov. The return of the United States to Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is not an amendment to the old list of U.S. priorities on the international arena, but one of the main components of Washington’s new vision

MOSCOW DIPLOMATIC CORPS

Dr. Mustafa Fayed. Palestine: another step towards independence

The decision on the recognition of Palestine as an observer state in the UN was an important decision historically, and we can say that it has changed the political and legal status of the nation.

THE WORLD AROUND US

E. Bragina. Does India have a different middle class?

"Middle class" as a concept, in the social, economic and political categories, can’t complain about the lack of attention from the social sciences. However, attempts to offer its current generally accepted definition have still not yielded significant results.

D. Gershinkova. The problem of climate change and the “G- 8" in 2014

One approach by the Russian Presidency in the "Group of Eight" on climate change may be an emphasis on the relationship of politics to climate change and strong development, including the formation of strong development goals.

E. Tokareva. Practice of insuring against the risks of natural disasters in the U.S.

Against the background of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, hurricanes in the U.S., floods in Europe and in Russia territory, it seems clear that supporting victims and funding economic recovery after natural disasters is becoming more expensive.

Archive of the Russian Foreign Ministry

E. Guseva. On the threshold of "big changes ... and shocks" N. V. Ustryalov on the origin of fascism in Japan

N. V. Ustryalov’s work “Japan Today” was written in 1932 for the Soviet Consulate General in Harbin. In just a few pages it gave a short but at the same time incisive analysis of the socio-economic and political roots of the growth of fascism in the country.

BOOKSHELF

K. Dolgov: The first book about the heavenly patrons of the Christian countries of the modern world

Y. Raykov: Africa: Present and Future – an eyewitness account

A. Dubina. Russia and Turkey: rivals or partners?

M. Oreshina. The second All-Russia competition for young international journalists: a summing up